26 COLD STORAGE OF THE PEAR AND PEACH. 



fruit cools down in the car depends on the care with which the car is 

 iced, and on the temperature at which the fruit enters the car. Fruit 

 that is loaded in the middle of a hot day and that has been picked in a 

 heated condition may be 20 or more degrees warmer than fruit picked 

 and loaded in the cool of the morning. Such warm fruit ripens much 

 more rapidly, consumes more ice in cooling down, and takes longer 

 to reach a low temperature. When the temperature in the top of the 

 car is higher than that of the lower part the ripening of the upper 

 layers of fruit will be hastened. If the fruit is destined for cold 

 storage, these upper layers, if more mature, should be piled sepa- 

 rately, and sold as soon as their condition warrants it. Under these 

 conditions if the fruit from this position is mixed in with the rest 

 of the load it may begin to deteriorate before the remainder of the 

 fruit shows mellowing. 



The general principles outlined in former pages for the handling of 

 the Bartlett pear apply to the storage of the peach, except that the latter 

 fruit is more delicate and the ripening processes are even more rapid. 

 Every condition, therefore, surrounding the peach in the orchard, in 

 transit, in the storage house, and at withdrawal must be most favor- 

 able. The fruit must be well-grown and well-colored but firm when 

 picked. The packing must be done with care to prevent bruising. 

 If the fruit is to be transported in refrigerator cars, it should be 

 loaded soon after picking, and preferably before it loses the cool night 

 temperature. The peaches should be transferred from the cars to 

 the storage house, or from the orchard to the storage house if the 

 latter is near the orchard, in the quickest possible time. The air of 

 the storage room should be kept sweet and pure. The fruit should 

 always be removed to the coolest possible temperature, usually at the 

 end of two weeks, while it is still firm, and it should be placed in the 

 consumer's hands at once. 



If the fruit is overripe when picked, or becomes mellow from 

 unfavorable handling before it enters the storage house, it is already 

 in a critical condition and may be expected to deteriorate quickly. 



If the conditions outlined are observed in the handling of the peach, 

 it is possible to store it temporarily with favorable results. 



